By : Made Raditya )*
The government continues to improve the handling of the impacts of climate change. One of these ways is by optimizing the use of renewable energy fuels and building a green industry in Indonesia.
Indonesia has been established for more than 70 years and continues to develop itself, in order to become a super modern country. Development continues to be encouraged to improve the economy, so that we can rise after the pandemic. Since the New Order era until now, development has always been carried out so that this country continues to progress.
Of course, development must not conflict with the environment, because Indonesia is one of the lungs of the world. Especially now that there are effects of climate change, where the weather is getting hotter and the seasons are shifting for several weeks. If this continues, it could have a major impact on the economy, so it must be prevented.
President Jokowi addressed the APEC meeting which was held virtually at the State Palace. According to him, efforts must be made to address the impacts of climate change within the framework of sustainable development. The handling must be carried out in a balanced manner with the social and economic development of the community, to meet the target of sustainable development.
Handling the impacts of climate change must be done because if left alone it will be chaotic. The President emphasized that the industry in Indonesia is a green industry that is clearly environmentally friendly. In the future, industrial fuels will be replaced slowly, from fossil materials (coal and oil) to new renewable energy (EBT).
New renewable energy fuels for example from hydropower, wind, and solar. If you use NRE, it is clearly environmentally friendly. Compare this with fossil fuels which make Indonesia high in carbon dioxide. Besides not being environmentally friendly, it can be harmful to health. Therefore, the use of EBT continues to be encouraged by the government.
The side effect of using fossil fuels so far is hot weather. Weather that is too hot will have a lot of effects, one of which can cause drought and eventually residents have difficulty getting clean water. If there is a drought, farmers will also have difficulty because it is difficult to find grass. Shifting seasons is also confusing because it causes farmers to fail to harvest.
Therefore, the government continued the construction of dams, especially outside Java. So that if the rainy season shifts, the population will not experience drought. On the other hand, if the rainy season has entered, they will not be afraid of being flooded because the water is accommodated by the dam.
In addition, the green industry is also encouraged, because this industry is not only looking for profit, but also must be environmentally friendly. If there is a green industry, it will reduce emissions, so there will be less carbon dioxide. When CO2 levels decrease, it will be healthier for the community and not make the weather too hot.
Indonesia’s industrial and economic development do not have to conflict with the environment, because they can go hand in hand smoothly. If there is development, especially outside Java, it should be endeavored not to have too much impact on the environment. So it is a big mistake if someone says that development will destroy the forest and the surrounding environment.
We all want to move forward and rise during the pandemic, and the economy continues to run well. however, the way to make money doesn’t have to be negative, such as deforestation. The development must be ensured that it is environmentally friendly and the existence of a green industry can relieve the community, because the government is already aware of the importance of protecting the environment.
The impact of climate change is very powerful, not only hot weather and global warming, but also can shift the seasons and invite natural disasters. Therefore, the government supports the handling of the impacts of climate change in the context of sustainable development.
)* The author is a contributor to the Press Circle and Cikini Students